最珍贵大的东西是免费的

摘自《中国翻译》，2010.1（郑立群：85-87）
The most precious things cost nothing
It suddenly dawns on me that the most precious things in human life cost nothing. 忽然发觉，在这个世界上，最珍贵的东西是免费的。

Sunlight is free. Who in the entire world could do without sunlight? Who has ever paid any penny for the sunlight he has enjoyed from childhood to adulthood? Moreover, sunlight pours equally on each dwelling whether a luxurious villa or a shabby farm-shed, and on each person as well, whether rich or poor, old or young. So it is just and generous. 阳光，是免费的。

芸芸众生，没有谁能够离开阳光活下去；然而，从小到大，可曾有谁为自己享受过的阳光支付过一分钱? 慷慨的阳光，既照耀着豪华别墅，也照耀着农家小院；既照耀着国王，也照耀着乞丐；既照耀着老人，也照耀着孩子。

Air is free. Each person needs a continuous supply of fresh air if he is to stay alive and kicking. From the old time to present, has there been anyone who has ever defrayed his consumption of the indispensable air? Each person, a nobody or a big shot, is breathing for free the air which covers the earth. 空气，是免费的。

一个人只要活着，就需要源源不断的空气。

可从古到今，又有谁为这须臾不可缺少的东西埋单?无论贩夫走卒还是明星政要，他们一样自由地呼吸着充盈天地间的空气。

Parental love is free. At birth, an infant is adored and taken a good care of by parents. An infant grows up in parental love which takes root in the blood tie and requires no payback. None of the parents has ever said to their child,’ I won’t love you unless you promise to pay back some day.’ And, parental love will not gradually diminish or lessen as the child is growing up or as the parents themselves are getting old and weak. As long as the parents stay alive, their love for their child remains as sincere and unselfish as ever.亲情，是免费的。

每一个婴儿来到世上，都受到了父母无微不至的呵护，那是一份深入血脉不求回报的疼爱。

可从没有哪一个父母会对孩子说：“你给我钱我才疼你。

”父母的这份爱，不因孩子的成年而贬值，更不因父母的衰老而削弱；只要父母还活着，这份爱就始终如一。

Friendship is free. A friend readily keeps you company without being asked when you feel lonely. A friend ever hesitates to offer a hand when you fall.
A friend always rushes to hold you close when you are sad…does she ever ask you to pay for all he or she does for you? No. 友情，是免费的。

寂寞时默默陪伴你的那个人，摔倒时向你伸出手臂的那个人，伤心时将你揽在怀里的那个人，可曾将他(她)的付出折合成现金，然后要你还钱?
Love is free. Love comprises a true, deep feeling of adoration between lovers, a spontaneous or involuntary admiration for each other, an earnest yearnin g to be each other’s life companion, and a strong desire to stick by each other through thick and thin.（同甘共苦） So love is the ever-lasting comfort and
support that the lovers seek in life. Love can not be purchased with money. It is priceless, but free of charge. 爱情，是免费的。

那份不由自主的倾慕，那份无法遏制的思念，那份风雨同舟的深情，那份相濡以沫的挚爱，正是生命最深切的慰藉与最坚实的依靠。

而这一切，都是免费的，更是金钱买不来的。

So is the goal for life, whether a well dressed, well fed prince or a pauper in rags, can set a goal for his life and follow it if he will. The goal can be either great or common, either splendid or simple. So anyone can have a goal gratis if he will. 目标，是免费的。

无论是锦衣玉食的王子，还是衣不蔽体的流浪儿，只要愿意，就能为自己的人生确立一个目标。

这个目标既可以伟大也可以平凡，既可以辉煌也可以朴素，只要你愿意，你就能拥有。

Besides, faith, hope, will, dream-these are all free. You can have them gratis （free） if you want. What is more, breeze, drizzle, bright moonlight, the twinkling of the stars and many other fine things in nature nurture and nourish the soul. All of them cost nothing. 还有信念，还有希望，还有意志，还有梦想……所有这一切，都是免费的，只要你想要，你就能得到。

还有春风，还有细雨，还有皎洁的月华，还有灿烂的星辉……世间多少滋润心灵的美好风物，都是免费的啊……
We should make no more groans or grumbles to heaven. For Heaven is just and generous. Heaven has bestowed the most precious things on every one of us for nothing. 再不要对着苍天唉声叹气；苍天是公正的，更是慷慨的；苍天早已把最珍贵的一切，免费地馈赠给了每一个人。